Jaya flays DMK govt for shortage of petroleum, essential commodities

Chennai, Aug 25 (UNI) Opposition AIADMK General Secretary J Jayalalithaa today flayed the DMK government for shortage of petroleum products and other essential commodities in the state.

In a statement here, she said the people of Tamil Nadu were facing a crisis as there was a shortage of essential items, petroleum products, coupled with the high rate of inflation and spiralling prices.

Besides a shortage of petrol, diesel and other essential commodities, there was a fall in farm production and industrial growth, she said, adding, such situation prevailed only during war times.

Due to the shortage of diesel for more than a week in the state, farmers could not take up cultivation, industries could not be operated to their full capacity and fishermen could not set out to sea for fishing, she said.

The recent meeting of the Chief Secretary with the oil companies to defuse the diesel crisis has not yeilded any result, Ms Jayalalithaa said.

If the Chief Secretary attributed using generators by the IT companies for the increased demand of diesel, Electricity Minister Arcot N Veerasamy asked them to use generators in view of the power crisis, she added.

Meanwhile, the oil companies were contemplating to sell the branded diesel at a higher price, using advantage of the shortage of ordinary diesel, she alleged.

This would be unfair on the part of oil companies, when oil prices at the international market has come down by 35 dollars, she said.

Stating that it was the responsibility of the state government to ensure that the essential commodities reached the people without any difficulties, Ms Jayalalithaa urged Chief Minister M Karunanidhi to ensure the free availability of diesel and prevent the Centre from indirectly increasing the prices of petroleum products.

UNI WS DS SBC AS1817